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This week’s affiliate profile takes a look at a legend of modern Halo in Tony ‘Lethul’ Campbell Jr.

Origins

Lethul made his major event debut towards the end of the Halo 3 era, playing at MLG Columbus in 2010. It wasn’t a spectacular first outing, but at the start of the Halo Reach season just months later, Lethul would be launched into the spotlight for the new game, winning the MLG Washington D.C. Combine and following up with a win in the MLG Dallas Halo Reach exhibition tournament.

When the MLG circuit for Reach got going the following year, Lethul remained at the top, with finals appearances at MLG Dallas and MLG Orlando, and victory at MLG Raleigh as highlights of the season. Lethul remained among the elite for the whole of Reach and through Halo 4, but it was on Halo 2: Anniversary Edition that he would really stamp his authority on the game.

Playing under Evil Geniuses, Lethal would dominate for the entirety of the H2A season, winning the majority of the tournaments he attended, including both seasons of the Halo Championship Series. From the release of H2A to present, Lethul has been the most successful player in Halo, consistently winning trophies for the past three years.

Current team

Lethul currently represents OpTic Gaming as the most dominant and successful force in Halo 5. The squad originally came together at the game’s release under Counter Logic Gaming, before moving to the green wall in the summer of 2016.

Alongside Paul ‘SnakeBite’ Duarte, Matthew ‘Royal2’ Fiorante and Bradley ‘Frosty’ Bergstrom, Lethul has been a part of creating a dynasty which has so far spanned the entirety of Halo 5’s lifespan.

Since the game’s release, Lethul and co have been the most successful team in the world, and it’s not close. The squad has been a permanent feature of grand finals and won the majority of them. There is almost no accolade that the team hasn’t collected over the near two years of their rule.

Great achievement

When success comes as consistently as it has for Lethul over the past three years, that in itself begins to eclipse any single moment. Many teams and players can win titles, almost none will ever experience anything close to the level of continued dominance Lethul has imposed upon the game.

Within such immense success, however, there are particular accomplishments that stand out even among the rest. In any game, for those that can claim it, the title of “World Champion” is usually the pinnacle achievement of a career.

In Halo, there are only four players that can make such a claim, and Lethul is among them. That’s not simply because there has only been one such event – there have been two since the Halo World Championships’ inception in 2016. Lethul and his team claimed victory at both.

In-game

Lethul has long been a really solid team player. Many would categorize him as something of a “glue guy,” if you will to put it into a more traditional sports term. He’s constantly in good spots and shooting things to make things easier for his teammates. He’s a team first kind of player who has no problem dying if it means his teammates will get 2 or 3 kills or secure the objective. This unselfish play and ability to bring a team together has seen Lethul help his team to countless Major titles, including two World Championships.

Public persona

Publicly, Lethul is known as something of a troll. Not one to shy away from the jokes, he’s embraced the extra publicity that comes part and parcel with representing OpTic Gaming. His unveiling as a member of OpTic was also iconic, teaming up with owner H3cz as part of a shock reveal at the end of an episode of OpTic Vision.

This week’s profile takes a look at one of the most legendary and successful players in Call of Duty history, Patrick ‘Aches’ Price.

Origins

Among the more veteran players on the circuit, Aches broke into the upper echelons of competition during the Modern Warfare 2 season. Along with Tyler ‘TeePee’ Polchow, with whom he would go on to have a legendary partnership, Aches’s LeveraGe squad placed second at the MLG National Championship in 2010, his first major LAN appearance.

The following season, LeveraGe would maintain their place at the top, adding Seth ‘Scump’ Abner, who made his LAN debut with the team. MLG Dallas was the first event on the newly-expanded MLG Pro Circuit for Call of Duty, and LeveraGe took it by storm. It was the first of very many to come for Aches, and kicked off a pattern of success for him at the first event of each year.

LeveraGe would win one more title during the Black Ops season, making them one of the most successful teams of the year, matched only by OpTic Gaming’s two victories. Unfortunately, the diminished opportunities on Modern Warfare 3 meant Aches only competed once on LAN the following season, at EGL 8, where he placed 7th-8th.

The following year would see the arrival of Black Ops 2, however, and it was during this season that Aches would build his squad under compLexity. It took a few months to settle on the formula for success, but when the team added James ‘Clayster’ Eubanks they became something unlike anything else Call of Duty had ever seen.

The team went on a run that to this day is somewhat unparalleled, ultimately winning thirteen of the eighteen events that the core three competed at and at their peak hitting a level that remains, in the eyes of many, unmatched. By his role in one of the greatest teams of all time, regardless of what Aches’s future holds he has already carved out a massive and permanent place for himself in Call of Duty history.

Current team

Unfortunately, the advanced movement era of the last three years hasn’t seen Aches frequently on top, with his last LAN victory coming at MLG Columbus in 2014, the first event of the Advanced Warfare season.

Rather than being surrounded by the best players in the world, Infinite Warfare in particular saw Aches at the head of a team of young talents, the veteran leader guiding the raw talent of rising stars. His Cloud9 squads certainly made an impact at times, but for the coming season Aches has opted for a change of direction once again.

Ahead of Call of Duty: WWII, Aches finds himself back under Evil Geniuses, the organisation under whom his reign of dominance originally ended. The new squad is stacked with veteran players, featuring another World Champion in Bryan ‘Apathy’ Zhelyazkov, Anthony ‘Nameless’ Wheeler and Ian ‘Enable’ Wyatt.

It’s a team built around not just talent, but experience – both generally as professional players and specifically in boots-on-the-ground titles – and a shared mindset. Aches himself is at the center of the squad, already publicly announced as the primary leader for the team.

In the coming season, OpTic Gaming will once again be the team to beat. Given his history in boots-on-the-ground titles and specifically as a rival to the green wall, Aches surrounded by veterans who are buying into his leadership might well prove a formula capable of toppling today’s titans.

Greatest achievement

For anyone who can claim it, becoming a Call of Duty World Champion is usually a career highlight. This is as true for Aches as anyone else, but when Aches earnt his ring he did so as part of one of the greatest and most dominant teams of all time.

Excluding the US Regional Qualifier, which didn’t offer any prize except qualification and seeding for the Call of Duty Championships, when Aches entered the main event he had claimed the trophy at the preceding five tournaments. The rule of compLexity over Call of Duty was absolute.

The Call of Duty Championships itself saw compLexity claim the most dominant victory that the event has ever seen. Throughout the entire event, the team lost only four maps in total, dominating the group stage and then walking their way to what felt like an inevitable trophy.

Not only is the Call of Duty Championships the biggest and most prestigious event Aches has won during his incredibly decorated career, it also represents the very peak of his dominance over the game, a level few if any teams have ever replicated.

At that moment, compLexity was producing a peak of play that even the legendary OpTic Gaming, whose total trophy count now eclipses that of compLexity, have failed to truly replicate. As part of compLexity, Aches helped to create a magic that may never be matched, and that legacy will last as long as Call of Duty itself.

In-game

During his individual peak, which somewhat unsurprisingly coincided with prime compLexity, Aches was one of the most dangerous players in the world. Usually found with an SMG in hand, Aches was capable of putting up huge performances, at times taking over games single-handedly. That he was one of the star players of one of the most successful teams of all time should say plenty about his skill level at that time.

In recent years his blistering performances have become a little more uncommon, although still showed up occasionally while playing for Cloud9 this past season. Instead, Aches has typically played a more supportive role during the advanced movement era, relinquishing the role of the star often to younger talents.

Aches’s impact in-game has instead been perhaps most notable in his ability to guide his team-mates. Aches is one of the most accomplished leaders in Call of Duty history, and he has been able to use that experience to elevate teams of comparatively inexperienced players.

Come WWII, Aches will once again be in a position of leadership, and that alone is enough to make him valuable to a team. With the franchise returning to boots-on-the-ground combat, however, it’s within the realm of possibility that Aches could once again begin to unlock that star player of old.

Public Persona

Throughout his time as a professional player, Aches’s presence outside the game has been almost as great as within it. Aches had never been afraid to speak his mind, never held his tongue for the sake of popularity or avoiding controversy.

In that regard, Aches is perhaps one of the most important players in Call of Duty. He will never be the most beloved player in the world, but in his willingness to set himself against some of the most popular teams in the world, and his talent in defeating them, Aches has often provided the other half necessary for a great story – a worthy villain. A world without Aches would be noticeably bland by comparison.

While fans might not always appreciate Aches’s outspoken nature, especially when it manifests as criticism of a popular team, it also means that Aches has often been happy to raise controversial issues. When faced with issues in the game or the competitive circuit, he has never shied away from addressing them, and in doing so has at times forced a conversation around topics that might otherwise be ignored.

Love him or hate him, there is no doubt that Aches has played a major role in shaping competitive Call of Duty, both within and without the game.

Scuf Gaming is proud to announce the launch of SCUF Germany on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These social media channels will join SCUF Global, SCUF Spain, SCUF France, and SCUF Italy as Scuf Gaming makes its way from one country to another, sharing pro gaming innovation and custom controllers with the world.

Follow SCUF Germany for SCUF-related news and esports announcements from Deutschland and beyond!

And be sure to celebrate by taking part in the SCUF Germany Giveaway! Sign Up Below!

This week’s affiliate profile takes a look at one of the rising stars of European Call of Duty, David ‘Dqvee’ Davies.

Origins

Dqvee’s rise into the upper echelons of European Call of Duty was remarkably swift. His first appearances on LAN would come towards the back end of the Advanced Warfare season, and although they were at domestic events of a relatively low profile, some top placements – including his first victory – were enough to see him onto a decent squad under Exertus for the start of Black Ops 3.

Dqvee would remain under Exertus for the majority of the Black Ops 3 season, qualifying for Stage Two of the Global Pro League and eventually joining up with Stephen ‘Vortex’ Allen and Billy ‘Hawqeh’ Harris, alongside whom he still competes.

While he was quick to break into the professional level, however, Dqvee’s rise wouldn’t take him to truly exceptional heights until the end of the season. Exertus remained competitive in Europe, but were never truly challenging for titles. At the end of the year, however, the squad would throw themselves into the spotlight with an entirely unexpected performance at the Call of Duty Championships, playing this time as FabE on their way to a fourth-place finish.

The squad remained unchanged for the start of Infinite Warfare, but looked in danger of slipping from their newfound spotlight following a few underwhelming results. The addition of former Splyce player Joshua ‘Joshh’ Lee-Shepherd, however, transformed them into one of Europe’s strongest teams, giving Dqvee a platform from which to shine and cement himself as one of Europe’s best players.

Current team

Right now, the exact line-up for Dqvee’s current team is something of a mystery. With the Call of Duty: WWII season approaching, many teams and players have been making changes to their rosters, and while some have been revealed, Dqvee’s current status remains unknown.

What seems likely, however, is that the core will remain similar to that of the Epsilon squad of Infinite Warfare. Though Joshh has departed the team, Dqvee has competed alongside Vortex and Hawqeh for nearly a year and a half, and there’s currently no indication that the trio won’t stick together for the coming season.

This past year, the team under Epsilon had something of a slow start, but would ultimately solidify themselves as one of the top-two teams in Europe, only narrowly behind Splyce at times. Though they had little luck in the Global Pro League, the squad won both CWL Birmingham and CWL Sheffield domestically, and picked up an impressive third-place finish at CWL Anaheim.

Greatest achievement

Though Dqvee’s most successful season was undoubtedly on Infinite Warfare, his most exceptional achievement in isolation actually came at the very end of the Black Ops 3 season, at the Call of Duty Championships.

FabE’s run to fourth-place is quite possibly the greatest underdog run that Call of Duty’s most prestigious event has ever seen. Prior to that tournament, FabE, previously known as Exertus, had only once before even competed at a major international event, reaching the top-eight of the sixteen-team ESWC. The squad hadn’t even reached the playoffs of Stage Two of the European CWL, with their season’s peak a top-four at the Gfinity Summer Masters.

Simply put, FabE were arguably stretching to be included among Europe’s elite, let alone coming anywhere close to that conversation in a global setting. When it came to the biggest event of the year, however, FabE showed up. Even outside of the context of their expectations compared to the result, a fourth-place finish at the Call of Duty Championships is a major accomplishment.

Were it not for the even more unbelievable run of Splyce to the grand finals, FabE’s fourth-place would today still be the highest placement by a European team in the history of the event, and at the time was one of the high water-marks for the region in any international competition.

In-game

This year, Dqvee really came into his own as a star player. As an AR slayer, Dqvee was capable of putting up big numbers in the kill column, an extremely valuable talent in a game that saw slaying power be more important than perhaps ever before.

Many of the most successful teams of Infinite Warfare were those that could field an elite primary AR player. It was a role that ultimately proved key throughout the season, and Epsilon were fortunate to house one of the best in Europe in the position.

Over the past season, Dqvee was a legitimate carry threat, capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the world and consistently living up to his status as a star player. When Epsilon saw their greatest success, it was usually behind immense performances from Dqvee.

Public persona

Dqvee’s rise this year hasn’t been limited to his in-game achievements. Confident, outgoing and with an easy sense of humour, Dqvee was as quick to attract fans with his appearances in interviews and on complementary shows like MLG’s “Hot Mic” as he was with his in-game finesse.

With the biggest fan-bases in Call of Duty typically focusing on teams and players across the pond, Dqvee’s presence on social media is yet dwarfed by those of the North American titans, and like many of his European compatriots he hasn’t adopted the content-creation approach to building a brand for himself as many North American professionals do. When he does appear on camera, however, Dqvee is almost always to be found with a smile on his face, and never misses an opportunity to slip in a trademark wink.

This week’s affiliate profile takes a look at one of the break-out stars of Infinite Warfare, eUnited’s Alec ‘Arcitys’ Sanderson.

Origins

Despite having spent most of the past season on one of the top teams in the world, Arcitys is a relative newcomer to professional Call of Duty. Towards the end of Black Ops 3, he and twin brother Preston ‘Prestinni’ Sanderson – to whom he is inextricably linked not only by blood, but also by the fact that the two have competed together at every stage of their careers so far – made their first notable appearance on LAN with a top-12 finish at MLG Orlando under Apotheon Esports.

The squad would go on to qualify for the Call of Duty Championships at the end of the year, ultimately finishing top-24 there to conclude the season. It may have been a relatively unassuming start for the pair, but in the current climate of competition exceptionally few players reach the top-twelve of a major event in their LAN debut, and reaching Call of Duty’s most prestigious event is becoming progressively tougher every year. In hindsight, their brief time competing at the end of Black Ops 3 perhaps hinted at what Arcitys and Prestinni were destined for.

Their first step towards breaking into the elite came at the start of Infinite Warfare, when alongside Pierce ‘Gunless’ Hillman and Anthony ‘DraMa’ Padilla they picked up another top-twelve finish at CWL Vegas. Following that performance, Arcitys, Prestinni and Gunless moved to eUnited to join up with veteran Justin ‘SiLLY’ Fargo, forming a squad that would become one of the most impressive break-out teams of recent years.

Current team

Going into the Call of Duty: WWII season, Arcitys remains a member of the eUnited squad that he helped to push to the very top of the game.

It’s hard to overstate just how remarkable the eUnited team was in Infinite Warfare. Players breaking into the upper echelons of competition are not unheard of, but for an entire team of players who previously were nowhere to be found at the highest level to become one of the best teams in the world in such a short period of time is truly exceptional.

Towards the end of the Infinite Warfare season, a roster change saw former star Gunless be replaced with ex-FaZe member James ‘Clayster’ Eubanks. Though the team technically saw their best results with the earlier iteration of the line-up, at its peak the squad with Clayster still looked incredibly formidable.

Ahead of the coming year, eUnited seem to be one of the only elite squads not making a change, and it’s not hard to understand why. Matching the talent and chemistry that elevated the team in the first place with the experience and talent of a veteran player like Clayster is a potent combination, and one that should be expected to hit the ground running in the new season.

Greatest achievement

Arcitys greatest achievement is undoubtedly the meteoric rise and success he had with eUnited towards the beginning of the Infinite Warfare season.

From relative obscurity, Arcitys helped launch his team into the elite almost overnight, a squad primarily made up of rookies going from having never placed higher than top-twelve to victory at the second major event of the year.

Not only did eUnited lift the trophy at a major event, the CWL Atlanta, they did so in rather spectacular fashion. Their run to victory required them to battle their way through many of the top teams in the world, concluding with an epic battle against OpTic Gaming to clinch the title – incidentally becoming the only squad in the year that would beat OpTic in a grand final.

Though they weren’t quite able to lift another trophy, eUnited would later prove that their break-out performance was no fluke, returning to the grand final at CWL Dallas where they once again faced OpTic in a thrilling grand final. There it was OpTic that narrowly emerged victorious, but eUnited’s performance cemented them as a truly elite team for the year.

In-game

Usually, stars that rise as quickly as Arcitys has – especially during the advanced movement era – do so because of incredibly mechanical skill that marks them out as special talents.

While Arcitys undeniably boasts great mechanics, what stands out in particular about his playstyle is his movement and positioning. Rather than relying on his skill to snap onto players and take fifty-fifty gun-fights, Arcitys routinely puts himself in advantageous positions by making consistently smart decisions on both a micro and macro level about his timing, positioning and target selection.

These are traits more commonly found in more veteran players, and one of the reasons Arcitys stands out as a particularly exciting prospect for the future. During the Infinite Warfare season he also demonstrated a degree of versatility, making role adjustments following the addition of another primary Assault Rifle player in Clayster.

Public persona

Having spent a relatively short time in the spotlight compared to most of the players who are now his peers, to a certain degree the Call of Duty community is still getting to know Arcitys.

From the time Arcitys has spent in the public eye, he appears to be easy going and humble, a worthy ambassador for the game.

This week’s affiliate profile looks at one of the only players to have walked among the elite in multiple esports titles – Ian ‘Enable’ Wyatt.

Origins

Enable is one of an incredibly select group of people to have not only competed in multiple esports franchises, but become a champion in more than one.

Enable made his rise as a competitor in the Halo series, most notably competing for Status Quo as part of a squad that were habitual top finishers for several years and won several championships throughout.

Upon the release of Call of Duty: Ghosts, however – the title that followed the massively successful Black Ops 2 at a time that Halo was experiencing a decline, Enable was among many elite Halo players to take a shot at making the switch.

Ultimately, Enable was one of the only players to fully commit to making the change. Success didn’t come immediately, but by the end of the Ghosts season Enable had established himself as a player worth investing in. Shortly after the arrival of Advanced Warfare, Enable was picked up by FaZe Clan, and has remained a constant presence at the highest level of the game since.

Current team

For three years, Enable was a staple of the FaZe Clan Call of Duty squad. Having joined the organization in January of 2014, during his time wearing red he was part of their highest placement at the Call of Duty Championships and won three of the five trophies acquired by FaZe in Call of Duty.

That era has come to an end, however. It seems that as the new season approaches, there’s a good chance Enable will no longer be representing FaZe, but instead embarking on a new chapter in his career.

Right now, Call of Duty is in a transitional period. With the Infinite Warfare season wrapped up and Call of Duty WWII still months from release, many of the top teams are currently being rebuilt in anticipation of a new game, and a return to the traditional boots-on-the-ground mechanics.

As such, many of the top players have yet to announce their plans for the coming season. In Enable’s case, his new squad has actually been openly discussed – he reportedly intends to play alongside Patrick ‘Aches’ Price, Anthony ‘Nameless’ Wheeler, and Bryan ‘Apathy’ Zhelyazkov. The new squad have yet to confirm the organization they will play under, however.

Greatest achievement

One of Enable’s greatest achievements is arguably simply having become a champion in both Halo and Call of Duty, a feat only OpTic Gaming’s Matthew ‘FormaL’ Piper shares with him.

Within Call of Duty, however, Enable’s greatest achievement was arguably the part he played in denying the legendary OpTic Gaming three trophies towards the end of the Advanced Warfare season.

Throughout the entire year, no team had managed to defeat OpTic Gaming consistently, with only isolated losses standing out amongst an otherwise dominant record for the team.

Enable’s first attempt at building a team to challenge them took him to back-to-back grand finals, but the squad couldn’t quite overcome the green wall. The addition of World Champions James ‘Clayster’ Eubanks and Dillon ‘Attach’ Price, however, formed a squad that would end the season undefeated against the otherwise indomitable OpTic, collecting trophies at UMG Dallas, the Gfinity Summer Championship and the MLG Pro League Season 3 Playoffs.

In-game

In Call of Duty, Enable has often demonstrated his versatility as a player, and it’s perhaps this trait that makes him so valuable.

In some of his greatest successes, Enable has played alongside some of the greatest players Call of Duty has ever produced – both under FaZe Clan, and in a two-event stint filling in for OpTic Gaming. In those scenarios, what the team needs most isn’t another superstar, but a player who knows how to facilitate the stars of the team and is willing to relinquish the limelight to some degree in order to be a more supportive player, a role that Enable has always excelled in.

Enable isn’t limited to such a role, however. In the times during which his FaZe squads have struggled, it’s often been Enable stepping up individually when necessary to fill gaps in slaying. He has the talent to play that role when needed as well.

More recently, Enable stepped into a less obvious, but nevertheless critical role as the FaZe squad’s in-game leader. Though it doesn’t show up on the score-board, having a player capable of taking the reigns and giving a squad direction is crucial, and it’s something Enable has shown he’s willing to do when necessary.

Ultimately, everything Enable has demonstrated in-game adds up to a fantastically versatile player, but crucially one who knows that sometimes the path to team success isn’t the same as the path to individual glory.

Public persona

Enable’s presence on one of the most popular and successful teams of the last few years has naturally led to a significant Twitter following, but Enable has rarely actively sought fame.

Where others have often used their positions to cultivate sizeable Twitch or YouTube followings, Enable has never dedicated much time to such pursuits. It’s perhaps a side-effect of what seems like an unrelenting focus on competitive success, in a manner that many might claim but few truly execute.

One thing that does stand out about Enable is that he seems to have that killer instinct common to the greatest competitors. Though never arrogant, Enable comes across as a player willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, both in and out of the game, never one to chase the spotlight in either scenario.

Despite famously missing a thumb, Enable is rarely to be found making excuses, quietly and diligently working to overcome any obstacles to success.

Allegiance first stepped into Call of Duty towards the back end of the Black Ops 3 season. While not featuring superstars, their debut squad consisted of some recognizable names at the highest level of the game – Steve ‘Mochila’ Canle, Remington ‘Remy’ Ihringer, Matthew ‘Royalty’ Faithful and John ‘Xotic’ Bruno.

After snagging a place in the 2016 Call of Duty Championship by way of the NA Last Chance Qualifier, Allegiance announced their arrival on the international stage with a stellar group stage performance — pipped Europeans Epsilon and Stage 2 Runners Up, Renegades to the top spot. In all, Allegiance dropped only two maps in the pools.

In the knockout stages, consecutive defeats to Luminosity, 3-2, and a sweep by Millenium spelled the end for Allegiance, wrapping their campaign in top 16 — something of a disappointing ending on a weekend that had shown much promise. Still, Allegiance had announced their arrival and their roster looked packed with promise heading into Infinite Warfare.

And the Allegiance Call of Duty squad did in fact get off to a blistering start in Infinite Warfare. The CWL Vegas Open marked the start of the season proper, the first major international event and the first opportunity to collect some coveted pro points – the key to qualifying for the Global Pro League later in the year.

Though not tipped as a favourite for the event, Allegiance were able to fight their way to a fourth-place finish, outplacing the likes of OpTic Gaming, Team EnVyUs and Luminosity.

Unfortunately for that roster, Vegas would mark the start of a rapid decline, with placements falling off with each subsequent event until finally the team went their separate ways.

Around the same time, Allegiance’s Halo team were suffering similar struggles.

2016 had been an incredible year for the team; led by veteran Naded, a Bronze Medal at the X Games in Aspen was followed by a $500,000 pay day by way of a runner up spot at the Halo World Championship 2016.

The departure of Naded spelled the end of the high-flying Allegiance team. The lure of OpTic Gaming proved too much for the storied warrior, while the rest of the Allegiance pack took on new challenges of their own.

Even after a total roster overhaul, the results were promising. A 6th place finish in the Summer Season and 8th in the Fall Season were followed by a third-place finish in at HCS Las Vegas 2016, the team would even go on to survive Relegation to set 2017 up for a bang.

2017 saw a new roster come in, though, and despite modest results the team failed to qualify for the Halo World Championship 2017; this was to be their last appearance as a team at a Major Halo tournament — just one week before the Allegiance Call of Duty team would implode in Dallas.

Their Gears team would have better longevity, but failed to recreate the kind of form that saw them take home a podium finish in London — albeit among an easier field of competition. Mexico, Atlanta, Paris, and Vegas were all top 8 finishes and in the end, the team would go their separate ways.

It was the beginning of a rebuilding era for Allegiance.

Allegiance started to begin again, acquiring a team of aspiring amateurs that had previously competed as SetToDestroyX.

A new Call of Duty squad was formed and while it might not have featured such recognisable names, Austin ‘Believe’ Smith, Dakota ‘Nova’ Williams, Mehran ‘Mayhem’ Anjomshoa and Tristan ‘Spoof’ Green would have raised their profile considerably by the close of the season.

It wasn’t such an explosive debut for the new squad, a top-20 finish at CWL Anaheim — Allegiance’s best Call of Duty placing since Atlanta — but when it came time to qualify for the most important event of the year, the Call of Duty Championships, the squad breezed through.

Unfortunately, it was announced shortly before the event that Allegiance would be no more. They were to shut down due to lack of funding, meaning that the squad’s run at the Call of Duty Championships would act as a swan song for the organisation.

It might have been an underwhelming end – the team were hardly among the heavy-hitters for the event anyway, and with the bottom two in the groups to be eliminated, Allegiance would have to out-perform at least one elite squad, their group featuring FaZe Clan and Red Reserve as the favourites to proceed.

Remarkably, however, that’s exactly what they managed to do – a victory in their final match of the group against Red saw the team proceed, after which they even went a further step beyond expectations by beating Global Pro League top-six finishers Fnatic in the first round.

It might have been a bittersweet ending for the organisation – brought to an end just as their young team took the first step along the path to success with a break-out result. Instead, that result proved to be exactly what the organisation needed – in the aftermath of the Call of Duty Championships, it was revealed that their success had sparked enough interest to keep the organisation alive.

Having proven themselves on the biggest stage Call of Duty has to offer, the squad look to continue their push into the upper echelons of the game in the coming WWII season. They might still have a long way to go, but with their success having helped secure the future of Allegiance, they will yet have a chance to build a legacy for the organisation.

Allegiance will now push into a new era. Having survived destruction, armed with a Call of Duty and SMITE team, they will seek to stave off competition and stay alive in the cruel world of esports.

Through shrewd recruitment and clever assignment of resources, no one should count out Allegiance. Hopefully they’ll be competing for many years to come.

With a sad wave goodbye, the Call of Duty community said farewell to the CoD: WW2 beta. Now, the only thing left to do is wait for November and the full release. TeamSCUF spent a ton of time online these past two betas, getting to know the new divisions, weapons, and scheming with different loadouts. But what did the pros have to say? Scuf Gaming kept an eye on the social scene, and the responses were pretty positive.

The beta seemed to bode great things for the upcoming competitive season:

Of course, not everyone was able to take advantage of the Beta. With such a limited time frame and a busy schedule, it would be easy for even some of the most dedicated CoD players to miss out. That was not the case for Ali-A, however, who got in some incredible play time from his hotel room in Germany: now that’s dedication!

SCUF contacted a few of our other favorite affiliates to see how they were enjoying the beta, and how their SCUF competitive controllers were holding up under the pressure! Here are some of their responses:

“I’m really looking forward to WWII and looking forward to having fun on those really long days of grinding CoD again. The grip on my Scuf always helps me block sweat and stay comfortable through those long days” – JKap

“Paddles are just as important if not more important going into WWII boots on the ground than they were during the jetpack era. I’ve never been more excited to SCUF jump noobs again” – KOSDFF

“This is the most complete Call of Duty since Black Ops 2 and I love it. I don’t think we’ve ever had this level or gun balance and map concepts this early in a game. It also helps when you have a Scuf and the ability to jump around any corner or drop shot while keeping your aim and movements fluid” – Theory

“I’m loving WWII and I actually started using a SCUF back on MW3 for strafe jumping and I’ve been abusing this mechanic so far in the BETA.” – MarkyB

“Using a SCUF still adds an advantage to your game even in a slower paced CoD. It’s a big benefit to be able to jump around a corner while still being able to aim, drop shot, scufjump, and a variety of other things thanks to the paddles” – Octane

CoD: WWII has been among the most hyped games of the year, and Activision surprised fans everywhere by releasing the beta a day early! With a November release, the CoD: WWII beta represents the first chance in years to play a new boots on the ground Call of Duty experience. The beta for Playstation 4 ends on the 28th of August, and picks back up for Xbox One and PS4 with a second run from September 1st to the 4th.

It’s possible that a third (or even a fourth) beta is in the works, but for the time being, the next two weekends are your only chance to get some multiplayer training in before Call Of Duty: WWII releases on November 3rd.

With fewer high-tech options and a focus on the classic style that made Call Of Duty one of the most popular games of all time, it goes without saying that you’ll want every advantage you can get. SCUF’s custom controllers are equipped with the patented innovations that can give players a real advantage in the trenches of World War II. That’s the reason that Scuf Gaming is used by over 90% of all pro gamers.

This weekend’s multiplayer beta is already a true proving ground for pro gamers, esports hopefuls, and hardcore gamers of every stripe. SCUF’s gaming technology can provide the winning edge that a player needs, whether you’re enjoying CoD’s campaign, the chaos of multiplayer, or waves of the undead in Zombie mode. Keep your eyes peeled for SCUF’s Call Of Duty: WWII game guide, coming soon!

Prodigy

Among console esports stars, Huke might well be the most unique. He was unusual to begin with, a young talent that seemingly came out of nowhere on Advanced Warfare. By the end of the year, he’d gone from unknown amateur to being hailed as one of the best players in the world – a feat few have managed.

What makes him particularly exceptional, however, is that having been forced out of the pro level by age restrictions, he then transitioned to Halo. Not only did he become one of very few players to ever successfully make the move in that direction (OpTic Gaming’s Ian ‘Crimsix’ Porter being the only other high-profile example), he has become even more successful as a result.

Within a year of making the switch, Huke was representing major organisations and playing alongside legendary names as he had in Call of Duty, but in Halo he’s managed to go a step beyond and win championships as well.

Having found success in both games, Huke is already among an elite group – the likes of the aforementioned Crimsix, his OpTic Gaming team mate Matthew ‘Formal’ Piper, and Ian ‘Enable’ Wyatt being the other obvious members. The company Huke shares despite still being a young player makes him one of the most exciting prospects in console esports, a legend in the making.

With Call of Duty: WWII on the horizon, rumours are swirling that Huke might make a return to Call of Duty now that he’s old enough to compete in major events again. If he does, he’ll instantly be one of the most highly anticipated players on the circuit.

Origins

Although Huke had competed briefly in Call of Duty Ghosts, his rise to prominence truly began in Advanced Warfare. Having kicked off the season with a top-16 placement alongside fellow amateur players at MLG Columbus, he’d launch himself into the spotlight by reaching the grand finals of UMG Orlando with a Stunner Gaming squad that had no business contending for the trophy on paper.

It didn’t take long for Huke to earn recognition as a rare talent despite his inexperience on a professional level. Age restrictions at the Call of Duty Championships arguably prevented him from joining an elite squad earlier, but by the mid-season he was playing for a FaZe squad that reached back-to-back grand finals at major events.

To close out Infinite Warfare Huke found himself playing under Denial, alongside Advanced Warfare World Champion James ‘Replays’ Crowder. The team remained at the pinnacle of the game, appearing in another two grand finals but never quite able to overcome the dominant OpTic Gaming squad.

By the end of his rookie season, Huke was one of the most exciting and sought-after players in the world, universally recognised as an extraordinary talent relative to his age and experience. Unfortunately, his Call of Duty career would be cut short – at least temporarily – by factors beyond his control.

The introduction of the Call of Duty World League meant that all major events the following year, not just the Call of Duty Championships, would require competitors to be over the age of eighteen. Unwilling to watch from the side-lines for two years, Huke made the switch to Halo, where he has gone on to even greater success.

Current team

Today, Huke competes in Halo 5: Guardians for Team EnVyUs. Champions of HCS Las Vegas 2016, the HCS Fall 2016 Finals, UMG Daytona 2017, as well as runners-up in the 2017 Halo World Championship, EnVy have been one of the most successful teams in the world during Huke’s time with them.

Since Huke’s addition to the team, they have been a constant presence on the podium, consistently placing third-place or higher. Over that period, they’ve been the primary obstacle in the way of an otherwise dominant OpTic Gaming squad, whom they’ve faced off against in several grand finals.

Greatest achievement

Despite a meteoric rise in Advanced Warfare, Huke was never quite able to lift a trophy in Call of Duty. He reached four grand finals over the course of the season, but on every occasion ran into the indomitable OpTic Gaming, who were then only in the first year of the legendary roster that has terrorised the game since.

Having made the switch to Halo, it didn’t take Huke long to start reaching grand finals again. Having truly announced his arrival in the new game with a top-four finish at the 2016 Halo World Championship in March, he placed second in his first season of the Halo Championship Series.

It was the following season, however, that marked arguably his greatest achievement to date. Having moved to Team EnVyUs after HCS Summer 2016, the squad put together a dominant run for the HCS Fall 2016 season. Having topped the regular season, the squad were able to come back from the loser bracket to defeat the imperious OpTic Gaming in consecutive best-of-sevens to take the trophy.

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